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Forgive me if I misread the mood in the drinks, but I think it is swinging from deep soul-searching in the aftermath of Monday’s defeat, to a realisation that if we really decide to put a marker down, starting Saturday, we can still take advantage of the fact that we are in second place, just two points off the top.

That must be the approach of everybody connected with the club, surely? We have 21 Premiership fixtures remaining. Realistically we can only afford to lose one or two, even in a season where every club that hits the summit seems destined to throw it away almost immediately. More importantly we have to stop the leaking of points at home. Eleven matches remain at the Grove, and the target has to be to win them all, starting this weekend.

The bloke who programmes the fixture computer must have a warped sense of humour. A week before the ultimate festival of peace and goodwill to all men he has managed to land us a meeting with the high priests of anti-football. The irony is not lost on anyone, I suspect. Instead of a visit of the wise men bearing gifts we are bound to invite into our home the middle-aged man in a baseball cap and the members of his squad he is yet to attack as they shower.

For those interested in statistics, Ryan Shawcross will be making his twentieth start of the season on the same day Aaron Ramsey hopes to make his second appearance for Nottingham Forest after the former shattered Rambo’s leg with a ‘He’s not that kind of player’ challenge at the Britannia Colliseum in February. At least his inclusion should ensure a level of vocal support the side are more used to on their travels these days.

I’ll be back with a preview on Friday evening, when the ‘holic pound may be drawn to a bet on how many minutes the ball spends in Rory Delap’s hands?

TS, if it’s a pint a post that’s four for you already. Go easy man, livers are delicate little organs! I would have thought the Holic pound might be thinking about how many Shawcross legs will accidentally get broken, but if the bet is Delap-related I’m sure there will be great interest in that too. Ahem, NOT! (Just kidding.)

After coming unstuck at OT (the result at least) t’s probably good that we have a “despised” oppo at the Grove on Saturday. It will get us all going and hopefully that will be the same for the players.

Win the battle, earn the right to play the football, get three points and put a little pressure on those playing on Sunday.

And the sad thing is that the ‘Holic is not making this up. Delap really does have a towel-like thing in his custom-made shirt.

On a brighter note, I just saw the highlights of the FA Youth Cup game v Darlington on Arsenal.com – 6-1 to the Arsenal and Chuks Aneke, who is otherwise on loan at Huddersfield and has scored three times in seven starts there, scored three and set up the other three. He looks like a really interesting prospect for the future – he can shoot, he can head the ball, he’s got good distribution and he’s not too small either. Check it out if you have an ATVO account, you won’t be disappointed.

Just got off the phone with my old man – studiously talking about the Test tonight, and not Monday’s result. Until he remarked that Tremlett was the same height as SZZNNYY – “I like the look of him. Reminds me of Schmei%%el”….. grudging praise indeed.

TS, I take it the man flu is all sorted? Good lad. Onwards and upwards.

Need someone to smear Deep Heat all over the Delap’s towel-like thingy. Is that for real Lars?

We are infinitely lucky to be gooners, even when we win fuck all.
Want to know why I’m bringing this up now? I just watched the Liverpool game in the Europa League.
God, that was awful beyond words.
Absolutely awful.

Here’s hoping that our collective hatred will get us through this fixture 😉
Holic is absolutely right in pointing out that we need 11 wins out of 11 at home in the league from now on. No fuck ups. No self destructions. Easier said than done.

@eddie: correct, it is Afobe who is on loan at Huddersfield. Got them mixed up in my mind while writing my post, sorry about that. Doesn’t change the fact that Aneke is a very interesting prospect (as is Afobe, for that matter) for the future, though.

Guys, if, having read Holic’s excellent post you are looking for other material then go to 3 and In and read the comments on the latest article to cheer yourself up…. it’s always good to affirm that there are people far, far more stoopider than you!

Excellent stuff… has quite perked me up.

BTW…. Zico, BTM, your guys down under are taking one hell of a pasting!

It’s curtains for our convict cousins, I think. Outplayed in most sessions in the series and no excuses.

I feel sorry for Ponting (not a sentiment shared by too many Englsihmen I suppose) having to play with some of these jokers, considering the players he has had to rely on in days gone by.

But the best team is winning, no doubt.

Incidentally, AW could learn a thing or two by taking a lesson from the cricket – England’s current dominance is arguably down to a combination of good technique and CLOSELY EXAMINING THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE OPPOSITION!

Note that it’s the final Saturday before Xmas so traditionally one of the poorest attended weekends on the footballing calendar. The Ems might just feel a bit more empty than usual. I’m not condoning that, it’s just a likely scenario.

Arsenal have already written to their members notifying of ticket availability via the Ticket Exchange service and I’m guessing that they are anticipating a less than full-house but hopefully the memories of February and the affection that we have for Ramsey will help to bolster the crowd.

With you on the hand-shaking thing re: Sh*wcr*ss. Some would call that childish (fair dos), I would call it hypocritical to shake the retard’s hand.

… And Arsene, in the vain and misguided belief that just once in a blue moon you do visit this bar, please don’t offer that odious little shower fighter a drink after the match unless you lace it with one of Dr. C’s special prescriptive concoctions.

It will be really interesting to see if Fabianski (who has done well, to be fair) gets back in once he has recovered. The potential of SZZCCNY just seems to be that much more. Plus I can’t see him taking any physical nonsense from anyone.

I’m with you on the physical presence thing of young Wojciech esp. against over-steroided mutants like Huth & co. I think that it’s a good tactical move to keep him in goal vs Stoke. Then let his older buddy return for Les Chavs.

“Also Thomas Vermaelen could be back in January we think” – the words of Arsene Wenger.

That does NOT sound good at all. He “could” be back “we think” – which means that they still have no clue at all what’s wrong. This is starting to sound more and more like it did with Rosicky. I don’t like it one bit.

30ATG
“I apologise little ones 5th Birthday last night, now there is a thought for too much vodka, put it this way a litre a head. I haven’t had so much vodka in my life before”

How many heads you got then mate? 😉

Congrats with the nipper, have one on me. (a drink, not a nipper)

So the Stokie scummies come to visit us on Saturday, I’ll admit that I think Darth Pulis is a bit of a twat and Shawcross is a club footed neandrethal, but other then that I don’t really pay them much notice, a very small fish in a pond full of much more anoying and far smelier fish.

I did however find that “supporters” website that was linked in the last drinks by TS quite tasteless, what a complete moron, if any of you good folk ever come accross him then please do me a favour by c%nting him in the b@sterd. Thanks.

You did indeed, and the comment was no way a reflection on your good self. I just couldn’t believe that someone who has the power to type could be so stupid…… but then I checked the comment section of the link that CG put up (was also on todays Arseblog) and realised that the world is full of idiots.

Yes, perusing the comments sections of other blogs and even some of the blogs themsleves makes you understand just how dense some people are. We’re probably worse for reading them and then passing comment – heh!

CG, I just popped down to the bar (all the talk of drink made me thirsty) and was called outside to help a guy who had car problems. Brass monkeys would be like sunning in the Carribean at this moment, I could of sworn I saw a polar bear shivering in his duffel coat and snood.

For once I am going to completely ignore AW. Shawcross is getting both barrels for the full 90 from me. Trev, like your idea re Whelan. I think that is very valid.

I am also looking forward to seeing that twat Pulis. It is rare that I take my seat feeling such animosity, but as far as I am concerned both Pulis and Shawcross can stick the Christmas spirit up there arse. Fucking sideways…………